News for Action: May/June 2025

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May/June 2025

NEWS FOR ACTION

A Monthly Newsletter to Spread the Seeds and Connect the Dots

Welcome to the late Spring edition of News for Action!

This issue highlights urgent findings from Support Matters 2025 on the critical state of child sexual abuse support services, and Birkbeck’s Recovery Histories Project reclaims the stories of child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, shifting the focus from individual pathology to the wider social and structural forces that shape trauma and recovery.

We also explore new insights into trauma-informed education and spotlight innovative community-led healing initiatives.

Don’t miss Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment and the Science of Prevention - a free webinar on 5 June, discussing how secure relationships can transform trauma into healing, and many more exciting events by ATTUNE and other inspiring organisations.

We are also excited to share with you, our caring LAH Subscriber, a special gift from Dr Sarah Temple - check below for her latest book, Stress Rewired, and your coupon!

A Dot of Inspiration: New LAH member Bonnie is training to be a psychotherapist at HOMA, a London centre focused on social justice, and her year group has curated the upcoming exhibition This is Urgent Go Slow, exploring race, power, and privilege.

Starting in July, News for Action will be published monthly again (hurray!) to keep you regularly updated on vital developments.

News for Action aims to spread news related to ACEs, Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), and resilience-building — the three ‘pillars’ of the London ACEs Hub.

If you have information or events to share that align with these aims, please get in touch!

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We love welcoming new members to our independent network of survivors, multidisciplinary professionals, and community advocates.

Join us to add your voice in 2025 and help make London an ACE-aware metropolis!

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TIME FOR NEWS FOR ACTION!

EVENTS

LONDON ACES HUB WEBINARS

Are you passionate about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? Would you like to share your wisdom? If so, get in touch to discuss hosting a webinar with the LAH!

Contact Us

Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment and the Science of Prevention

Join Clinical Psychologist Dr Warren Larkin for a powerful and hopeful webinar exploring how childhood trauma shapes our minds, bodies and futures and how secure relationships can break cycles of adversity. In conversation with UNICEF advocate and author Benjamin Perks, they will share cutting-edge science, lived experience, and practical steps for transforming trauma into healing.

Together, they will unpack why trauma is often misunderstood, how childhood adversity impacts long-term health, and how attachment and relationships are key to prevention and recovery. You’ll come away with insights from international best practice, inspiring personal stories, and clear strategies for supporting wellbeing, plus a chance to ask your own questions in a live Q&A.

5 June 2025

17:00 - 19:00 BST
Online

Free

Register

UK Trauma Council Insight Series - Trauma and Learning Disabilities: Navigating Complex Childhood Needs

Dr. Laura Bartlett and Beck Ferrari will lead a post–Learning Disability Week webinar on meeting the trauma-related needs of children and young people with learning disabilities, an often overlooked group facing service barriers and limited research. Beck Ferrari will discuss trauma-informed approaches, including a personal conversation with her sister, while Dr. Bartlett shares creative adaptations of evidence-based interventions from her NHS CAMHS practice. The session aims to equip professionals and carers with knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver compassionate, high-quality care, and attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.

26 June 2025

17:00 - 18:30 BST
Online

From £10

Register

ATTUNE's 3rd Impact and Dissemination Conference

ATTUNE, a 4-year youth-led research programme combining arts, social science, and health, is holding its 3rd and final Impact and Dissemination Conference in London. Led by Professors Kam Bhui and Eunice Ma, the project works with 10–24-year-olds across England who have experienced adversity, aiming to improve mental health and wellbeing. Key outcomes include a public health resource (Validating Voices), a digital game (ACE of Hearts), and economic evaluations. The event will share findings and future steps with young people, professionals, and policymakers.

27 June 2025

10:00 - 16:00 BST

6-14 Underwood Street, N1 7JQ, London

Free

Register		Website

Kazzum Arts - Trauma Awareness Training - Day 1

Join Kazzum Arts for an interactive, arts-based session for practitioners in arts, culture, and education. The training introduces key concepts of trauma and traumatic stress, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the impact of toxic stress on child development. It deepens understanding of the neurobiology of trauma and supports the development of self-regulation and reflective practice skills.

Maximum 25 participants, with a limit of 4 attendees per organisation.

Tues 15th July 2025

10-13:30 BST

£41

Online

Book

ATTUNE Project - Disrupt the Silence

Although this isn’t a London-based event, the ATTUNE Project’s Disrupt the Silence deserves a special mention. It is well worth the journey and sharing with friends and colleagues. This powerful, youth-led experience dives into the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through bold creativity and immersive art. It's not your usual conference, but a thought-provoking call to action, where young people challenge the status quo and reimagine futures from surviving to thriving. An unforgettable event led by youth, for youth.

Tuesday 8th July 2025

9:30-16:00 BST

Falmouth University Academy of Music and Theatre Arts

Free

Register

REPORTS

Support Matters

May 2025

The CSA Centre's Support Matters 2025 report presents a concerning overview of child sexual abuse support services in England and Wales. It reveals that nearly two-thirds of services are struggling to meet demand, with three-quarters facing funding uncertainties that impact staff retention and service delivery. Since the 2023 survey, 23 services have closed, leaving just 363 to support an estimated 16,500 survivors each. The report emphasizes that delayed or inaccessible support can exacerbate the trauma experienced by victims and survivors. It calls for urgent action to address these challenges and ensure that all affected individuals receive the timely, compassionate support they need.

Read

Improving Family Court Services for Children

The NAO’s Improving Family Court Services for Children report highlights serious delays and inefficiencies in the family justice system, with thousands of children caught in prolonged court proceedings. These delays increase risks of harm by exposing children to ongoing uncertainty, emotional stress, and disrupted relationships. The report calls for urgent reform and better coordination across government bodies to prioritise children’s well-being and reduce long-term negative impacts.

Read

People caught in ‘damaging cycle’ of re-admittance to mental health services due to a lack of suitable community support

Updated 16 May 2025

A March 2025 report by the (CQC) Care Quality Commission revealed serious failings in mental health care in England, including staff and bed shortages, inadequate training, and poor aftercare. Patients, especially young people, ethnic minorities, and those from deprived areas are being placed far from home, discharged too early, or left without proper support. The CQC calls for urgent national action, including better funding, stronger community services, and a well-trained workforce to meet growing demand.

Read

Air Quality Affects Early Childhood Development and Health

20 May 2025

Harvard's Center on the Developing Child highlights the significant impact of air quality on early childhood development and health. Children are particularly vulnerable to pollutants due to their developing bodies and higher respiratory rates. Exposure to indoor air pollution can lead to respiratory issues, cognitive delays, and long-term health problems. The paper emphasises the importance of clean air in all environments where children spend time and calls for systemic changes to improve air quality, especially in underserved communities.

Read

Three policies to reduce child poverty this parliament

24 May 2025

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation calls on the UK government to act decisively on child poverty. In this sharp and urgent piece, JRF outlines three key policies that could lift 1.3 million children out of poverty. Scrapping the two-child limit, increasing child benefit, and investing in childcare. A vital read for anyone concerned with structural inequality and long-term wellbeing.

Read

The Short- and Medium-Term Effects of Sure Start on Children’s Outcomes

May 2025

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report evaluates the long-term impacts of the Sure Start programme, which provided integrated early years services to families in England. The study found that children who had access to Sure Start Centres between ages 0 and 5 exhibited improved educational outcomes, including higher GCSE scores and a reduction in special educational needs diagnoses by age 16. The benefits were particularly significant for children from low-income and non-white backgrounds.

Read

ACTION AND TOOLS

Introduction and overview of GPwER in child and adolescent mental health (CAMH)

16th May 2025

The GPwER in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) framework was created to equip GPs with the additional skills needed to support children and young people with mental health difficulties. Its main purpose is to improve early identification and intervention for mental health issues in primary care. Enhance access to support for families without long waits for specialist services. Develop holistic care plans that take into account trauma, neurodiversity, physical health, and family context. Bridging the gap between general practice and specialist CAMH services. It’s designed to ensure children and adolescents receive timely, informed, and compassionate care from trusted professionals close to home.

Read Here

Recovery Histories

The Birkbeck Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Mental Health is leading a groundbreaking four-year Wellcome-funded project, Recovery Histories, exploring recovery from child sexual abuse (CSA) in Britain and Ireland since 1950. CSA is not an illness or a physical wound. Yet, recovery is often described using medical language like ‘healing wounds’ and ‘repairing damage.’ Co-produced with survivors and practitioners, the research aims to better understand the experiences of recovery from CSA

Read		Connect

Towards a Somatically Informed Practice

14th May2025

The Magpie Project is a grassroots organisation based in West Ham that supports mothers and young children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They provide practical help and advice alongside emotional support, creating a space that feels safe, calm, and welcoming. Aware of the trauma many families carry, the project has spent years developing thoughtful, trauma-informed ways of working.

The team’s practice evolved from being trauma-informed, grew psychologically-informed approaches, and continues to develop into a somatically-informed model. With guidance from a psychologist and their dance artist-in-residence, Louise Klarnett, They've introduced grounding and co-regulation techniques that support both families and staff.

Read

RACIAL JUSTICE

UK Fails to Act on Majority of Recommendations to Tackle Racism, Report Finds

A Guardian investigation reveals that only a third of nearly 600 recommendations from major UK racial inequality reports over the past 40 years have been fully implemented. Experts warn this pattern of inaction, described as a “doom loop”, keeps systemic racism entrenched, calling for stronger accountability and leadership to drive real change.

Read

Help Shape Reproductive Equity for Black Women in the UK

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Black Health is calling for evidence following its first meeting on 14 May, which focused on "Reproductive Equity and the Fibroids Crisis." Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of Black women by age 50, often with earlier onset and more severe symptoms, yet the issue remains overlooked in UK healthcare policy. The APPG urges Black women in the UK to complete a short survey to share their experiences. Your input is crucial to shaping future policy, research, and healthcare. Please pass on to friends and colleuges.

Survey

Footballer Callum Wilson considered taking own life during childhood

26 May 2025

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has shared that football saved his life during a difficult childhood marked by trauma, foster care, and domestic abuse. Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Wilson revealed he experienced suicidal thoughts around age 12 but found escape and support through football and his Sunday league coach’s family. Recently, after facing setbacks and mood struggles, Wilson sought therapy, crediting it with helping him avoid harmful behaviours and improve his mental health. His story highlights the power of sport and support in overcoming mental health challenges.

Read		Watch

LIVED EXPERIENCE

The Price of Breaking the Silence of Abuse: Dignity, Justice and Recovery

In her powerful article, The Price of Breaking the Silence of Abuse: Dignity, Justice and Recovery, Laura López-Aybar, a critical psychology psychiatric survivor, researcher, and professor examines the pervasive culture of silence that surrounds abuse. Drawing from her experiences and research, López-Aybar highlights how survivors who speak out often face isolation, disbelief, and further victimisation. She emphasises that breaking this silence is not just a personal act but a collective responsibility, urging society to create supportive spaces where survivors are heard, believed, and empowered in their journey toward justice and recovery

Read

NEWS AND INITIATIVES

Issue 29 of the ACAMH & ACEs Special Interest Group Newsletter

May 2025

LAH are pleased to share Issue 29 of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Special Interest Group (SIG) Monthly eNewsletter from ACAMH (Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health). Compiled by Dr Arnon Bentovim and Professor Sarah Halligan (University of Bath), this newsletter brings together the latest updates, research, and events related to trauma and ACEs. It’s circulated to members of the ACEs SIG and others interested in trauma-informed work.

Read

Toxic Stress

The Centre of the Developing Child, Harvard, reports that Toxic stress in early childhood can have profound and lasting effects on brain development and overall health. When children face intense or prolonged adversity such as abuse, neglect, or poverty, without the support of caring adults, their stress response systems can remain over activated, leading to long-term problems like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. However, stable, responsive relationships can buffer these effects and promote resilience. Understanding and addressing toxic stress is essential, not only at the individual level but also through policies that support families and reduce the burden of adversity, especially in marginalised communities.

Read

BOOKS AND ARTICLES

Stress Rewired - Dr Sarah Temple

Dr Sarah Temple has kindly offered LAH members the opportunity to download her e-book for free using the coupon - londonaces

Stress Rewired is a practical and compelling guide by Dr Sarah Temple, a GP with over 30 years’ experience and a specialist in Mindful Emotion Coaching (MEC). It explores how stress affects our brains, bodies, emotions, and relationships, with a focus on helping readers understand and navigate these impacts.

Told through the story of Kai, a young person under pressure, the book shows how early life experiences shape our stress responses. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and real-world practice, Dr Temple offers tools such as the hand model of the brain, sensory integration, and mindfulness to support emotional regulation, build resilience, and improve wellbeing for young people, families, and professionals alike.

Download

Book Recommendation: No Such Thing as Normal

In No Such Thing as Normal, Marieke Bigg critically examines the psychiatric industry's over-reliance on biological explanations for mental distress, highlighting the significant role of environmental factors. She argues that the current system often pathologises natural human experiences, leading to over-medication and neglecting the broader social contexts of mental health. Bigg, calls for a transformative approach to mental health care that prioritises social welfare over pharmaceutical profits. Find out more about the author and her book below.

Website

VIDEOS WEBINARS AND PODCASTS

Rethinking Student Mental Health: Participation, Power, and What Young People Really Need - Dr Kevin Matlock

Episode 27 of the ATTUNE podcast is now live! In this one, Sana speaks with Dr Kevin Matlock (University of Oxford) about the Nurture-U project, a national study on student mental health and well-being in UK universities. They cover a range of themes including co-production with students, climate anxiety, financial stress, and what meaningful support actually looks like in practice. Please have a listen and share with your networks!

Listen on Spotify		Listen on Amazon

A DOT OF INSPIRATION

This is Urgent Go Slow

New LAH member Bonnie is currently training to be a counsellor at HOMA, a psychotherapy training centre in London committed to equality, diversity, and anti-oppressive practice. Uniquely, HOMA offers a year-long module on social justice, recognising that therapeutic work must address wider systems and structural inequality.

As part of her training, Bonnie has co-created and co-curated an upcoming exhibition with her Year Two peers titled This is Urgent Go Slow. An exhibition about Race, Power and Privilege, taking place at HOMA on Sunday 13 July, 6:30–8:30 PM, the exhibition invites visitors into a space of reflection and dialogue. Inspired by Báyò Akómoláfé’s words, “This is urgent, go slow”

This work connects closely with LAH’s focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed care, and resilience-building, particularly highlighting racial justice as a crucial factor in understanding and addressing trauma and adversity.

Book

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Disclaimer: News for Action is a collection of initiatives and information shared by members and collaborators of the London ACEs Hub (LAH).

The LAH is an independent and non-partisan network and the opinions here presented might not represent the LAH. All items included in this newsletter aim to promote constructive discussion as well as personal and collective development.

Photos by Roy James Shakespeare

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